Donovan Wignal, President of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Alliance
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Donovan Wignal
By Kimone Witter
There is a suggestion that the government's $50 million reward fund to encourage citizens to provide information to foil robberies and other crimes, should become permanent as well as be increased.
Donovan Wignal, President of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Alliance, said while the establishment of the fund for the Christmas season is a good move, it should be operated year-round.
While he admitted that there is an upsurge in crime as criminals get more enterprising during Christmas, Mr. Wignal suggested that there "should be a permanent fund established where ‘don't hide it, tell it’ and ‘informal gets paid’ is the norm".
He also believes that instead of $50 million, perhaps the government could set aside $100 million "to aid in the process of people being informers, reporting criminal activity and benefitting from it".
Mr. Wignal, who was speaking Tuesday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, said the business community should be willing to assist in funding the reward scheme.
"Based on the benefit that will flow from this, I think it is not something that is impossible for the government to implement very quickly. Like I said, it's a very good idea, but it's one that can be expanded on. The business community, yes, for those who can contribute, [they] can bolster this fund."
Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Monday announced the establishment of the fund. He said intelligence has revealed that criminal networks have increased their efforts to fleece business operators.
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